Haikyuu!! Episode 9

There were some really nice subtle touches in this episode in which the character's actions and feelings were mainly expressed through cinematography.

 A long shot of Asahi contemplating. The school and the crows in the background are the visual representation of what's on his mind, which is whether or not he should go back to the team.

 A shallow focus on the crow taking flight in the background, further emphasizes the symbolism. 

 The shallow focus then switches on Asahi as he leaves, emphasizing the decision he has made. Just like the crow in the background he's taking flight again and rejoining the team. In this scene there was no dialogue from Asahi, the visuals were used to speak for the character

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This sequence is Asahi's return. Again very little dialogue.

 His entrance scene starts with the camera slowly panning to the entrance. This expresses Asahi's feeling of anxiety and apprehensiveness. Then only his hand comes into view, the camera focuses on it to show how he feels too ashamed to fully present himself

 The scene further builds on this feeling of anxiety by slowly panning up until finally Asahi's face comes into view.

 The shallow focus on Asahi with Nishinoya in the foreground conveys that his return was most important to Nishinoya.

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The sequence in which Asahi came to a realization that he has teammates that support him switches from medium-long shot to a long shot. This switch that made him look more diminutive signifies that he's seeing the bigger picture, that the team is bigger than him and he shouldn't shoulder all the blame.  

Previous post on Haikyuu!! - Episode 8

Haikyuu!! Episode 8

 Long shot with a shallow focus. This establishes the volleyball setting. The haziness and the out of focus background give a memory lane effect. 

 Close up shot of the net with a shallow focus. The net coming into focus strongly suggests that the character (Nishinoya) is reminiscing about volleyball.

 Off center medium shot. Volleyball background remains prominent.

 Medium shot of the back of another character (Asahi). This shot specify what Nishinoya misses about volleyball and that is playing with the person in the shot.

 Full shot of both characters. This establishes the two characters. Asahi having his back turned drives the emotional point that he has left volleyball.

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A mix of medium shots and volleyball imagery express the feeling of playing volleyball is still fresh within Asahi. The head only partially exposed has a melancholic effect by leaving it to the audience's imagination on how Asahi feels.

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These series of photos is Asahi's reaction to Hinata and Kageyama practicing.

 Close up shot of his hand as Asahi remembers the feel of hitting a ball.

 Medium shot with Asahi coming into focus. The low angle from the hand and the focus on him really express how he misses the game.

Full shot of Asahi's silhouette for further emotional effect.